Denying One's Life?

"Is this... a Simulation Pod specially made for you by the Spirit Pagoda?!"

Seeing something so utterly different from the other Simulation Pods, which looked like coffins, even Wu Zhangkong couldn't help taking a few extra glances. The other members of Class Zero, not to mention Long Hengxu, were even more astonished.

"Yes. My Martial Soul tends to cause all sorts of problems inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, and my strength increases tremendously after I transform. So my teacher not only prepared a custom Simulation Pod for me, but also oversaw the reinforcement of the Spirit Ascension Platform's space."

Lan Kai explained seriously in response to Tang Wulin's question.

Tang Wulin and the others couldn't help turning their gazes toward Juggler, who stood by the door. Their eyes were filled with admiration.

"Alright. Your task today is to survive as long as possible inside the Spirit Ascension Platform and find a way to kill the Soul Beasts there, obtaining spirit power that can increase the age of your Soul Rings.

"However, Lan Kai won't help you fight while he's acting alongside you. Otherwise, it won't serve as a trial for you.

"Also, when you enter the Spirit Ascension Platform, you won't all be placed together."

Wu Zhangkong reminded them once more, then watched as the six members of Class Zero entered their respective Simulation Pods.

Before long, six images appeared on the screens in the room. They showed the six members of Class Zero after entering the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Wu Zhangkong's gaze kept shifting from one image to another, as though he wanted to ensure each of them was safe.

But just then, someone suddenly patted his shoulder.

Wu Zhangkong turned around and saw Juggler, his expression grave.

Juggler said nothing. He simply turned and walked out of the room, but Wu Zhangkong understood that this was his signal that he wanted to talk.

After the two of them stepped outside, Juggler stopped.

"Wu Zhangkong, how much longer are you going to wallow in despair?

"This isn't what someone who came from Shrek Academy should be doing."

Though he'd borrowed that line from someone who brought Juggler nothing but bad luck, he felt no qualms about using it.

As for Shrek Academy, Juggler didn't think it was any kind of good place. Still, in this era, not everyone from Shrek Academy was without merit.

And Wu Zhangkong seemed destined to become one of those who did have merit.

So Juggler didn't mind using this approach to provoke him.

After all, in Wu Zhangkong's eyes, he'd seen something different—something unlike what he'd seen in the vast majority of powerful people in this world.

"...Your Excellency Snake Heart, since you already know, there's no point in hiding it.

"I still can't forgive myself for the crimes I committed back then. I'm not worthy of being a member of Shrek Academy.

"Because I..."

"That's only what you think. More than that, it's what you assume other people would think."

Juggler interrupted Wu Zhangkong without a trace of courtesy, then said meaningfully:

"And how do you know other people would see you that way? Even though you've never met them or spoken a single word to them?

"I'll never allow anyone to make up their own mind about what's right and wrong, then use that to deny someone else's life.

"Not even when you're denying your own life."

With that, Juggler passed Wu Zhangkong once more.

As their figures crossed, Wu Zhangkong seemed to sense an incredibly pure and powerful force of dark energy.

But when he turned around and even instinctively released his Martial Soul, Heavenly Frost Sword in hand, the corridor was already empty.

Juggler had vanished completely from the hallway.

"Denying my own life...?

"Long Bing, were your final words also... a denial of your own life?

"No. Your life wasn't denied by you. It was denied by the Dark Hummingbird—by that father of yours who wasn't fit to be human!

"I was such a fool. Really. Why did I deny my own life because of the Dark Hummingbird's mistake?!"

Something seemed to shatter inside Wu Zhangkong.

Inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, Lan Kai stood with one foot on the guardian of the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform, a Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear, while using Ultra X-Ray Vision to keep track of the other members of Class Zero.

"As expected of partners with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Even inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, they can find each other so quickly?

"Wait, what's that? A Man Faced Demon Spider!

"It didn't go after Wang Jinxi. It went for God King of Defeat instead?

"Damn it. Unless Gu Yue goes all out and Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi manage to use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill without the Man Faced Demon Spider interrupting them, they won't stand a chance against it!"

At the thought, Lan Kai could no longer sit still.

In a sense, a century-old Man Faced Demon Spider wasn't the most powerful Soul Beast in the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform, but it was definitely the most terrifying when it came to bullying the weak.

Moreover, Man Faced Demon Spiders could inflict the greatest damage on Soul Masters who entered the Spirit Ascension Platform.

When a Soul Master encountered danger inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, they could press the button on the back of either hand to exit.

But if they couldn't use the button, then all they could do was pray for the best.

They could only hope the Spirit Pagoda's staff would pull them out faster than the Man Faced Demon Spider could inflict devastating mental damage.

But more often than not, that hope ended in disappointment.

So the moment Lan Kai saw the Man Faced Demon Spider preparing to ambush his classmates from Class Zero, he immediately left the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear beneath his feet and flew low and fast toward it.

The Soul Beasts he encountered on the way became nothing but incompetent speed bumps beneath the Sperion Ring in his hand. They couldn't even slow him down.

At the same time, Lan Kai pinpointed Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi's location. With his left hand, he fired out clusters of light, creating a trail to guide them between their location and the spot where Xie Xie and the others were.

Lan Kai was confident he could deal with the Man Faced Demon Spider before Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi arrived. But when it came to having more cards to play, who would complain about that—unless they were in a hurry to play their hand during a game of Dou Dizhu?

On the other side, with the help of Tang Wulin and Gu Yue, that "match made in heaven" pair of "lovebirds," Xie Xie—God King of Defeat—had also been lucky enough to escape the Man Faced Demon Spider's first ambush, and lived to fight another day.

"What a terrifying thing! Boss, Gu Yue, what do we do?"

Xie Xie had tried to fight back, but his two daggers weren't even worthy of giving the Man Faced Demon Spider a scratch.